Symbolist Chalice, Louvain Circa 1900-1930, Sterling Silver, Van Walstyn Orfèvre, Zilver Leuven

Extremely rare symbolist or Art Nouveau chalice in hammered solid silver and vermeil, by the hand of the goldsmith Van Walstyn in Louvain. It disassembles into a conical foot, a knot and a cup, all in solid silver. The whole is at first sight adorned with strictly decorative plant elements. But in fact the decoration is totally marked by the text of the Gospel of Saint John (15:5) which is chiseled on the foot of the chalice: "Qui manet in me et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum." The more complete text is important for understanding the settings: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and in whom I abide bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. The goldsmith used this symbolism of the vine to decorate his chalice. On the whole surface he created a decoration of vine shoots, vine leaves and small grapes. He seems to have chosen the grain of the vine, the early stage of the grape between the flower and the grape, rather than the grape itself, to symbolize the fact that each man is potentially a beautiful bunch of grapes provided he remains attached to the vines. On the false cup of the cup is another text from the Bible: "Vinum germinans virgines". It comes from the Old Testament in the book of Zechariah, 9:17: Oh! what prosperity for them! what a beauty! Wheat will bring forth young men, And new wine maidens. On the bottom of the foot is the hallmark of guarantee for 800% solid silver and the name of the priest to whom the chalice belonged. the chalice still has its original case and paten. it weighs a generous 830 grams.